Resource mining control systems exist in order to ensure optimum exploitation of the in situ economic resource. This course covers the various elements necessary in designing appropriate control systems including estimation of the distribution and grade of economic minerals, and of the tonnes and grade of ore/coal as mined; alternate feedback
mechanisms used in forecasting; grade control; sampling theory, calculation of fundamental sampling error, design of sampling protocols; the use of univariate and bivariate statistics in evaluating the quality of sample analytical data; geostatistical modelling including spatial statistics, continuity and variography; grade interpolation and block modelling; and, reconciliation and other feedback mechanisms.
On completion of this course the student should be able to design or review the effectiveness of resource control systems used in a mining operation.